Proposed ceasefire between Israel-Hamas and Gaza: Live updates
United Nations Security Council on Monday confirm a ceasefire plan in the Gaza Strip backed by the United States, adding weight to international efforts to end the eight-month war. Neither Israel nor Hamas have publicly endorsed the plan, but Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on Tuesday organize negotiations in the region to promote its adoption.
Here’s a look at how the ceasefire works and some areas of dispute between the warring sides.
What’s in the plan?
The plan will take place in three stages.
Below phase one, there will be a six-week ceasefire and the release of elderly or wounded hostages or women, as well as the return of the remains of some people who died in Gaza in captivity. In exchange, Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons.
Israeli forces will withdraw from populated areas in Gaza and more humanitarian aid will be distributed in this land. Civilians, most of whom have been displaced, will be free to return to their homes, including in northern Gaza, an area devastated by Israeli airstrikes and fighting.
As all of this happens, negotiations on a permanent ceasefire will continue, with the goal of reaching phase two: complete Israeli military withdrawal, return of all hostages, and release to more Palestinian prisoners.
In phase three, the bodies of all remaining dead hostages will be returned to Israel and the process of rebuilding Gaza will begin.
The most important is, The ceasefire will be extended after the first six weeks if no agreement is reached on phase two, according to a report on Security Council proceedings on the United Nations website. In this way, the plan could theoretically lead to an end to hostilities.
What does the Security Council call for?
The Resolution passed by the Security Council, calling on both Israel and Hamas to fully implement the provisions of the plan “without delay and unconditionally”. It summarizes the plan and emphasizes the provision that “if negotiations last longer than six weeks for phase one, the ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations continue”.
The council alone cannot force anyone to approve the plan, and the United Nations is not involved in ceasefire negotiations. But passage of the resolution — 14 council members approved it and one member abstained — would increase pressure on both sides to reach a deal and potentially entrench Washington’s power.
What are Israel’s concerns?
Many details of the plan remain unresolved, especially the duration of the ceasefire and the future role of Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israel will fight until Hamas’s military and administrative capabilities are destroyed. An Israeli government official on Tuesday appeared to give a cautious welcome to the proposal, saying it would help the government achieve its goals.
“Israel will not end the war before achieving all of its war goals,” the official said, adding that these include eliminating Hamas and ensuring that Gaza cannot threaten Israel.
Negotiations in phases two and three of the plan, as outlined, appear to involve Hamas. This implies that the armed group will maintain some measure of control in Gaza, which Netanyahu said is a red line. He also ruled out an executive role for the Palestinian Authority, a fierce rival of Hamas that is limiting executive power in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The Israeli prime minister is facing pressure from the US and other allies to end the war, but two far-right partners in his ruling coalition have threatened to overthrow his government if Israel agrees to a deal to end the war without eliminating Hamas.
What does Hamas say?
Many Gazans say they want the war to end, but analysts say Hamas is not responding to the wishes of the people in this enclave. Political experts say group leader, including Yahya Sinwar, its top leader in Gaza, may be in no hurry to end the conflict. For one thing, they knew that their leverage would decrease once they agreed to release the hostages.
The group’s negotiators have said they will not accept a deal that does not stipulate a permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal and a “serious and genuine agreement” to exchange Palestinian prisoners for hostage.
A senior Hamas official, Husam Badran, said the group was “dealing positively” with the new proposal despite “the absence of a clear and public position” from the Israeli government. And he rejected Secretary of State Blinken’s claim that responsibility for accepting the plan lies with Hamas. Mr. Netanyahu is “the only obstacle” to an agreement to end the war, Mr. Badran said in a text message.
What happens next?
In the immediate future, Mr. Blinken is promoting regional negotiations to reach consensus for this plan. On Wednesday, he is expected to travel to Qatar, which plays a key role as mediator.
So far, it appears that both sides see value in offering tentative support for the proposal without backing it definitively, while accusing the other side of being slow.
A ceasefire could provide momentum towards ending the war, but it appears that negotiations to reach phase two of the plan could be resolved quickly.
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